39 concession held by Messrs Strik & Co., it was to run out in early 1928, and there was no indication that a request for renewal was going to be made.1 Still, Bayldon met several times with J. G. Laithwaite, Director of the Political Department in the Ministry of India, who gave him a detailed explanation of the history of red oxide in Sharjah. They both agreed to get into contact with Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad al-Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah through an agent for the Bayldon company, founded under the name Golden Valley Ochre and Oxide, Limited. Laithwaite suggested to use Mr Yousuf Kanoo of Bahrain for this job. It was agreed that Kanoo was to meet wit the Sheikh in Sharjah and seek to be granted a 6-month concession to study the strata of red oxide in Abu Musa in return for an appropriate financial compensation. He was to inform the Sheikh that a representative of the said company was coming to Sharjah in November 1934 to inspect the sedimentary layers in order to be able to reach a decision regarding obtaining proper concessions from the Sheikh.2 Mr Barnett, the said representative of the Golden Valley Company, arrived in Sharjah much later than first expected. He came to Sharjah in early February 1935 with some mechanical devices and equipment, hoping to begin the work immediately. At the time, the company was trying to have an agreement with Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr al-Qasimi regarding the rights to mine in the islands of Abu Musa and Sair Abu Nu’air through the company’s agent, Mr Kanoo. The Sheikh accepted the company’s proposal, providing the inclusion of some additional paragraphs which had been communicated to Mr Kanoo, and in turn, he translated them and forwarded them to commander Bayldon. The letter of Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr al-Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, read as follows: Date: 5th Dhul-Qi’dah 1363 AH (equivalent to 7th February 1935) From: Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr, Ruler of Sharjah I would like to inform you that I want you to inform commander Robert Bayldon R.N. (retired) of Gillots House, England, that I will agree to the contract he sent 1 I.O.R./L.P.&S/12/3798, P.Z.2795/1934, pp.23−27, Red Oxide on Abu Musa−1923−1934. 2 Ibid., L.P.&S/12/3798, P.Z.4671/1934. MINERALS AND OIL IN SHARJAH
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